Gender affects report of pain and function after arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

Gender-related differences in pain have been clearly shown in experimental settings. Clinical studies of such differences have produced conflicting findings. No studies have shown a significant difference in pain experience associated with differences in functional outcomes. Arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (AACLR) produces pain of moderate intensity and provides a useful setting for examining gender-related differences in pain and function.

This study was a retrospective review of prospectively gathered data collected for a continuous quality improvement program and involved all patients who underwent AACLR at a single outpatient facility since June 1992. Anesthetic, surgical, and perioperative management techniques were standardized. Using a questionnaire, all patients were routinely asked to record pain scores, narcotic consumption, and whether they were able to perform a standardized straight leg-raising maneuver on each of the first 5 postoperative days.

A total of 736 patients were enrolled for surgery, 58% of whom completed the entire 5-day questionnaire. Women reported higher pain scores at rest as well as with activity on postoperative day 1 compared with men (P < 0.005). In addition, fewer women were able to perform the straight leg-raising maneuver on postoperative day 1 (P = 0.002) and postoperative day 2 (P = 0.004). There was no difference in the amount of narcotics consumed at any time during the study period.

Women seem to experience greater intensity of pain after AACLR that is associated with a decrease in an intermediate measure of functional outcome. These differences may result from differences in either response to analgesics or neuroprocessing.